Coach Mauricio Pochettino said he is not ready to make a decision about the future after the US team was defeated 1-4 by Belgium in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
This defeat caused the US team to stop in the round of 16 for the fourth time in the last five World Cups. However, the Argentine strategist believes that the current time should be spent evaluating the entire journey of the team instead of talking about continuing or saying goodbye.
This is not the time to discuss the future. First, we need to consider and evaluate the tournament. In the next few weeks, if the US Football Federation wants, we will sit down to discuss" - Pochettino said after the match.
The contract of the 54-year-old coach will expire after the 2026 World Cup. According to many sources, the US Football Association has proactively negotiated an extension before the tournament starts, but the two sides have not yet reached an agreement.
Pochettino has coached many top European teams such as Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain, so many opinions suggest that he may return to the club-level football environment after completing his mission in the US national team.
However, the former Chelsea coach affirmed that he is satisfied with what he has built in nearly 2 years of working with the US team.
According to Pochettino, the most important thing is that the team has formed a foundation of thinking and playing identity, creating a premise for future development.
I think we have built principles that can help American football develop sustainably. I am proud of what this team has done," he said.
The Argentine strategist also expressed his belief in the current generation of players. He believes that the US team possesses many promising young talents and will be even stronger as the next generation of players matures in the coming years.
This team has shown that we can play football and compete with strong teams. The important thing is to continue to believe in the development process" - Pochettino emphasized.
